Newcastle Now's city renewal plan

IF successful, a Newcastle Now-driven plan to clean up the West End will be rolled out in the East End, Darby Street and Civic precincts.

The official West End Renewal Launch today was attended by Newcastle MP Tim Owen and key stakeholders including council staff and West End businesses and residents.

Newcastle Now has engaged creative Melbourne outfit Village Well – which has transformed destinations including Flinders Lane in Melbourne and pockets of Kings Cross – to educate newly founded West End Advisory Group on the benefits of place making.

The advisory group comprises members of council, which has a place making facilitator, and businesses and residents in the West End.

Newcastle Now manager Michael Neilson said the new ‘‘shared vision’’ of key stakeholders and the ‘‘new approach’’ to tackling urban decay in the precinct would lead to exciting initiatives ranging from improved shop facades to street lighting and long-term events.

Mr Owen said while there was a level of frustration in the community about urban development progress and Newcastle was in a ‘‘holding pattern’’ until the NSW Government released its State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP).

‘‘There is a level of frustration about whether we are moving along – we are ... it’s just that we need the design piece that needs to overarch and we can move forward.’’